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COPYRIGHTED 

BY 

EMMA PUTNAM BANCROFT 

1921 



^CU6249B9 



OCl 25 1921 



-^■. I 




BY 



EMMA PUTNAM BANCROFT 




DECORATED BY 



CLARE BANCROFT MAYER 









^\ 



To those who read and do not hesitate 
To merit find within, this book I dedicate : 
To Clare and Billy, who, with fingers kind, 
The wrappings of their "Mummie" would un- 
wind — 
To many who in fondness "Mummie" me, 
Whose criticism kind of course would be — 
To these I do not fear my thoughts to state. 
Nor to them dread the book to dedicate. 
( I hope that others, who may read this verse. 
Will kindly say, "Oh well, it might be worse.") 




CONTENTS 



An Old Fashioned Garden 13 

A Fantasy 27 

Woman's Reason 42 

Envy 45 

Lines 48 

SpiaNG 54 

Thoughts 63 



CONTENTS— Continuea 



I Wonder 72 

Now Wouldn't It Help ? 85 

On-Learning-To-Drive 87 

(1910) 

To Our Boys 93 

(World's War— 1917) 

Friendship loo 

What Is It ? 103 

Christmas Verses 106 




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13 









n summer, the fairies came 


from the 




world over, 




And 


settled right there 
sweeter than clover. 


— 'twas 


The 

1 


Fairy Queen lived in 
of a rose — 


the heart 


J The 

i 

1 
1 


sweet-scented flowers 
her clothes. 


provided 



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23 




24 




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25 




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26 




27 




28 




29 




3" 




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32 




33 




34 




35 




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37 




38 




39 




40 




41 




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42 




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44 



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w gee! I wish that I could be a 

scout, 
I know a lot o' things they talk 

about. 
I know a dandy place a guy c'n 

camp, 
An' scouts don't care a bit if it is 

damp. 
I know jus' where to catch the 

biggest fish, 
An' there's a bird's nest — Oh 

gee ! How I wish 
I didn't have to wait another 

year. 
Twelve months! The days are 

all so long; look here, 
I c'n run fast, an' jump, an' 

whistle, too. 
Listen; can't I whistle loud as 

you? 



•Bwivitt-nftTfri jny 



45 



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^„WJ,!,. • >Jf »Ml.^.lm:nml^^f>,•.^^„•^:,|•mmMMlm,t•xmlmlllI:IMI.J'WI\UI KM.llVllm,l.immiimmrtIW7!l^im aBI: 




hate this ol' blue suit I have to wear: 
I need a new one; there's an awful 
tear 

In this; tho' mother says it does not 
show, 

(But sometimes even mothers do not 

know 
How much a kid as big as me hates 

patches. ) 
Say, I c'n build a fire without 

matches ! 
Don't believe it? Some day you 

come with me 
An' I bet I c'n prove it to you; see? 
I got muscle, too ; if you want to, try : 
C'n box like anything, an' I don't 

cry. 




46 



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niiTrmrtinn :iifn^ 





igwag? What's that? You learn 

to talk with flags? 
Now don't you 'spose I know my 

dog's wigwags? 
Swim? Want to race me to that 

clump o' trees? 
I'll show you how to swim! 

Afraid you'll freeze? 
An' c'n I set a trap or blaze a 

trail? 

Well, I c'n try again if first I fail. 
(Aw gee! This suit — of course 

I would not mind 
Wearin' it, if I had the other kind 
Like scouts wear.) Gosh, jus' 

wait, you'll all find out 
You bet, another year, I'll be a 

scout ! 



ZB I- 



iiarft-Ban'ritrrViYfri 




47 




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48 




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51 




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53 




54 






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Id Mother Earth lay in her bed, 

The snowy covers tight — 

(She'd even pulled them o'er her 
head 

And snored with all her 
might.) 





55 



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roar, and snowy blankets flew 

From off the poor old dame — 

Who wakened, startled — (tho' 
she knew 

Who'd planned the zestful 
game.) 




%. mm 








57 










\ 



ow Mother Earth, "old as the 
hills," 
Sprang up in self-defense: 

She knew too well the playful 
wills 
Would soon their tricks com- 




58 




59 







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ay came, the little buds and 
leaves 

Just fast, and faster grew — 

And tiny birds, beneath the 
eaves. 
Grew fast, and faster, too! 








60 




6i 




62 




63 




ove was King of this Castle, rul- 
ing in Love's gentle way, 

Joy, Happiness, Peace reigned 
also — so long as Love held 
sway. 

Red roses whose gorgeous beauty 
never could fade, it seemed, 

Bloomed in greatest profusion 
about this Castle, I dreamed. 



y^ — I 




64 





o storm would destroy the Castle, 
no blight attack the flowers, 

The strength of all Eternity 
breathed forth from lofty 
towers. 

Naught would destroy this Won- 
derland, no trouble enter 
there, 

A Charm held the place in its 
power: a Charm of Faith 
most rare. 



65 




66 




67 




are Faith lies bruised and bleed- 
ing — time soon the charm 
dispels, 

All Life is bleak and lonely, 
where no longer Fancy 
dwells. 

Dark shadows take the place of 
Light, and bitter Sorrow's 
tears 

Blind the sight of struggling 
Hope: endless seem the 
years. 



'^jjpiHlf"""!!:^ 




68 



MmMti&M 




tLJU.--^ 



L'ENVOl 

roused at last, to real things — de- 
stroyed: the Castle strong, 

With dreams we had of Power, 
of Laughter, yes, and Song: 

The road now stretched before 
us — Life's road, both long 
and wide. 

Is rough and full of thickets, 
where Cares, unthought of, 
hide. 




69 




e falter oft, as on we pass; it 

seems scarce worth the 

while: 
Still Courage forces us along, and 

keeps alive a smile: 
For the World heeds not one's 

Sorrow — bitter, alas, but 

true; 
Just laugh and hide your trouble, 

and the ones you meet 

laugh, too. 






^^ikMJi:t&i.-^'MmM.: 




wonder why on earth it is 
That all things pick on me; 
From tiny little red bugs, to 
My Irish terrier's flea. 




7a 



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f I go out to drive, you know, 

Just slowly passing by, 
The bees and yellow-jackets, they 

All hum aloud, "I spy!" 





73 




74 



hen comes the night, when breezes 
soft, 

Are lulling Earth to rest. 

And all these stinging, horrid 
things 

Have lost their *'stinging" zest. 





75. 





feel at last that peace is mine, 
And gently breathe a sigh ; 
A pesky gnat will come along, 
And, "biff," straight in my eye! 




76 




77 




78 




t was country life to me exposed, 

Queer '*bugs, " with queerer 
tricks ; 

And I know now, Oh me. Oh my, 

Not only "clocks" have "ticks!'* 





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79 




8o 




8i 




82 




83 



f course I'm not complaining, 
now — 

But maybe I'd best pause, 
Before I tell how many times 

I have indeed had cause! 





hen you're alone with your 
thoughts, in a room, 

With spirit sunk to the depths in 
gloom — 

Ah me — 

Now wouldn't it help, if a 
friendly pen, 

In a loving hand, would happen 
then 

To drop you a line — a word of 
cheer. 

And the postman's whistle, draw- 
ing near. 

Ah me — 




ould call to you, with a sound so 
shrill 

That your heart would bound 
and your senses thrill 

At the tho't of a word, from a 
friendly pen. 

Which was held by a loving 
hand, and then — 

Ah me — 

Your spirit would rise, and dispel 
the gloom 

From out of your heart, and out 
of the room — 

Ah me — 

Now Wouldnt it help? 




«7 



^■^^LMMt^-i^'Mm^^. 




ell, we'll start up again and we'll 
try to go slow, 

Just two hands and two feet, still 
it worries me so 

To know which to use; it sure 
makes your head reel 

When you are out on the road 
and I'm at the wheel. 




V 



y old friends are slighted, my 
new ones are unseen, 

I stare straight ahead as I guide 
the machine ; 

Horses and dogs, aye, even the 
beasts of the field. 

Loom like dragons of old, when 
they're viewed thro' the 
shield. 




90 




ach nerve at a tension, just ready 
to snap, 

Honk! Honk! Oh, it is dreadful 
when dogs come and yap 

Right in front of the car; but with 
force, a quick move 

And I've just kept from crushing 
a creature I love. 




9> 





ruth is, Vm a coward, I pretend to 
e game 

And deep in your heart, you are 
sorry you came; 

Some thrills will you have, but 
small pleasure you'll feel, 

If you ride out with me when I take 
the wheel. 




92 



h soldier boy, in khaki clad, 

Be staunch, be brave, be true: 

For where Old Glory waves, my 
lad. 

Our hearts are there with you. 




f^^&^S£ai^J^^ti 




93 



..|||«U»-1— l»l|.l— 



ho', soldier boy, the way be long, 

March on, and struggle through: 

Prove steadfast, and remember 
this. 

Our faith is placed in you. 




^t^-..■m^^e^.t,.^^v«■^. 



94 




n trench or camp, on land or sea, 

Amidst the battle's din, 

Our standard bears the Star of 
Hope, 

Our soldier boys will win. 




^.^.■l>.»^i../M^v«. 




95 




e yours the task to fight abroad 

Alone, and friendless, too. 

Uncheered for deeds of valor 
done. 

Our thoughts are there, with 
you. 




fJtrttw«fytrn»Tfri 



96 



'T"""™'""**^ 



hould fate decree an unmarked 
grave 

On foreign shores, for you, 

Fear not — long shall Old Glory 
wave 

Our gratitude to you. 




^.^-...H...,..,^,./'^.,«., 



teM^MMMn 



97 




hould honors great, O soldier boy, 
Be yours, and rightly, too, 

Bear them with dignity, and know 
Our hearts beat fast for you. 



f^tirfl tmT>«nlT-ninii 



98 




nd when you win the battle, lad, 

As win it you will do — 

Come home — for there is wel- 
come here 

In all our hearts for you. 



r■^..^.. y.. c1i./n^vt.r. 



99 




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105 



Cheer — I send it you. 
Health — I wish for you. 
Remembrance — I keep for you. 
Ideals — I hold for you. 
Search these words of mine. 
Thou — and thoughts of thine 
Mingle softly and entwine 
A wreath of "Merry Christmas'* time 
Secured by Friendship's fingers. 




d-B-M- 



1 06 



If all the stockings in the land, were hung 
upon a line, 

They would not hold the Christmas wish, 
within this heart of mine. 

Joy, Peace and Love, with Friendship true, 
would fill them all, you know 

Till Love would burst from out the top, 
while Joy would burst the toe. 

Hiere's nothing in this world so bright I do 
not wish for thee. 

And a "Merry, Merry Christmas," means 
just everything — from me. 



fdtae 



Christmas time with mistletoe, 

And tiny sprigs of holly; 
Christmas trees with gleaming lights, 

And every one so jolly. 
I wish that every joy on Earth 

Be yours throughout the year — 
In truth, thro' all the years to come, 

This do I wish you, dear. 
I also wish, in your happiness. 

Wherever you may be. 
In a little corner of your heart 

You'd keep a thought of me. 




c-B-r> 



109 




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